Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MANDARIN ORIENTAL (BAR) GUIDE imbibe shaken or stirred? CAN BE FOUND AT THESE MARTINI MECCAS. BY NICOLETTE PANTALEO Blue Martini K nown for one of Vegas's best happy hour deals (50 percent off food and drinks from 4 to 8 PM daily), this swanky lounge boasts creative concoctions (42 martinis to be exact!), including loads of dessert drinks, such as the espresso martini and the Almond Joy, for any olive-phobes out there. Its signature, the Blue Martini, is made with Van Gogh Blue vodka and served in an oversize snifter with a glow stick. Town Square, 702-949-2583; bluemartinilounge.com Downtown Cocktail Room T Lily Bar & Lounge A WHETHER YOU LIKE THEM DRY, DIRTY, OR DRESSED UP, JAMES BOND-APPROVED LIBATIONS City views at Mandarin Bar. fter dining at the Light Group's Yellowtail Restaurant & Lounge at Bellagio, head down the hall to Lily, the company's intimate hangout for after-dinner drinks. Try one of its three most- requested martinis: the signature Lily, Sidecar, or Tropical Desire. Bellagio, 702-693-8300; bellagio.com Mandarin Bar S his barely lit speakeasy has been a go-to drink den for downtowners since it opened in 2007. DCR is famed for its skilled bartenders and creative drink menu, which rotates seasonally. For those in the mood for a killer martini, ask for professional advice from the mixologists— he or she will often use old- fashioned recipes whose names most would not recognize. 111 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-880- 3696; thedowntownlv.com Hank's Fine Steaks T his prime-choice steakhouse offers nightly entertainment with tunes on the piano and a bar happy hour that serves some of the best martinis in Las Vegas. We recommend the Hank's Dirty, with blue-cheese-stuffed olives. Green Valley Ranch, 702-617- 7075; greenvalleyranch.sclv.com 124 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM cenesters don't come here just for the view—although what a view it is. Located on the 23rd floor of Mandarin Oriental, the sweeping bar is one of the city's most upscale venues for sipping a potent martini. Taste-test the Golden Leaf (Mandarin's martini), made with Hendrick's gin, Aperol, and muddled mandarin orange; it was created especially for the Vegas location. Mandarin Oriental, 888-881- 9367; mandarinoriental.com Minus5° Ice Bar T he temperature inside Minus5° is so chilly, even the cocktail glasses are crafted from ice. At 23 degrees Fahrenheit, the club's bar and walls are also made completely out of ice, imported from Canada. Guests are given insulated jackets, boots, and gloves to withstand the cold, so order a martini to take the chill off; try it straight up to get the maximum effect from its famous premium vodkas. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, 702-740-5800; Monte Carlo, 702- 643-7800; minus5experience.com Mix Lounge I n a city of nightclubs, Mix at THEhotel is a rare gem that combines one of the city's most talked-about views with a sexy, sophisticated vibe. Whether indulging in a cosmopolitan or Lemon Drop, step outside onto the patio to take it all in—64 floors up. The view makes it easy to get talked into bottle service. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, 702-632-9500; mandalaybay.com Parasol Up and Parasol Down P arasol Down into an abyss of unique cocktails, a glorious view of the Lake of Dreams, and a location next to swanky SW Steakhouse. Then visit Parasol Up, an open- format lounge, for higher energy pre-clubbing. The top choice here is the Pear-A-Sol, which features fresh pear purée with pear vodka. Then when the mood hits, kick it up a notch down the hall at XS. Wynn Las Vegas, 702-248-3463; wynnlasvegas.com Vesper Bar T he Cosmopolitan's peppy bar by the lobby is an exquisite spot for the classic martini, made here by knowledgeable bartenders who serve classic drinks with a twist. People-watch (the Marquee Nightclub crowds alone can entertain for hours) while sipping the popular I'll Have Another, a new take on the Moscow Mule with ginger beer. The Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7000; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com V What is your favorite kind of martini to make? One of our signature cocktails, Tropical Desire, a combo of tropical flavors with a carnation garnish. How do you add that extra touch? At Lily we stray from the norm, offering guests an exotic experience in a glass, with edible garnishes, unique ice, twist classics, and tropical aromas. Is Las Vegas a martini town? It depends on the occasion! Image is everything in Las Vegas. In the lounges, it's all about martinis. The Royalty martini at Lily. STRAIGHT UP We got the buzz on martinis from Lily's Emilio Tiburcio, The Light Group's corporate mixologist.